FAQs

At this point in the training, running has become my life. I'm either recovering from my latest run, preparing for my next run or actually in the act. People have been very kind in feigning showing interest and asking me questions about the only thing I seem to have time for. Here are some of those frequently (and I use that term loosely) asked questions:

Q: How's the training going?
A: It's going surprisingly well. I've only had one or two bad runs where I really struggled. Otherwise, I feel good and am hopeful for a strong race. I am pretty beat up though. I expected to have a few bumps and bruises at this stage of the training, so it's not worrisome. My body is ready for some rest.

Q: Are you tired of running yet?
A: Generally, no. There are some days where I really don't want to put in the miles. This mainly happens on long runs before work. But for the most part, I'm really enjoying the process and putting in the work.

Q: Do you have a certain time goal for the marathon?
A: I do, but I am not sharing this with anyone. I will say that I have to run the race of my life and have a bit of good luck to achieve this goal.

Q: Why won't you tell anyone what your goal is?
A: It's hard to explain. Part of it is superstition. Part of it is that I don't want that information out there as a disappointment in case I don't make it. And part of it is that I want to rely only on myself to achieve this. But mainly I'm just being weird.

Q: What do you think about Paul Ryan lying about his marathon time?
A: I'm not up in arms about it. Still it's pretty sorry for someone to claim an honor that they didn't earn, and breaking 3 hours is most certainly an honor for runners. Most people (myself included) work for months and push their bodies to the absolute limit without even coming close to running a marathon in under 3 hours. (ASIDE: This answer was not given as any type of political statement whatsoever.)

Q: Have you lost a lot of weight?
A: I don't know because I haven't weighed myself. If I'm eating well and running well, that's all that I care about. It's possible that I've actually put on some weight.

Q: Does your dog run with you?
A: He usually does a few miles with me. His limit is about 5 miles though, so I'll drag him along for a while then drop him off at home while I keep running.

Q: Are you getting excited about going to New York?
A: I don't know that I've ever been more excited about anything. It should be a once in a lifetime experience, and I can't wait to see the city in a way that few people do. If everything goes well, it will be a fantastic weekend in a fantastic city.

My Mother, Jeanne Victoria Bush

I was only 4 when my mother died, so my memories of her are random, scattered and very few. I remember standing in the kitchen and showing her a pumpkin that I was very proud of, and I remember watching her put on makeup in the bathroom. I also remember my father telling me and my brother that she had died. All I have are random flashes like that. However, running this race and raising money for a charity that could have helped her has been one of the best decisions of my life. Not only I am doing something good to honor Mom and help women like her, but I feel closer to her. People are sharing their stories and memories, and she is in my thoughts more than ever. For this I am very grateful. I wish I had more to share, but I have very little to draw from. Luckily, I have some thoughts from people that knew her well. Here are some memories from my Aunt Sally:

"Your Mom was a very special person.  Before either of us were married and Vicki was teaching in Phoenix, she and I lived together and became very close…even though I was 4 years younger.  I stayed with her in Texas when she was going through a lot of her treatments.  I took care of you and Louis when Jimmy and Vicki would go to the hospital in Dallas.  Her only goal was to be sure you kids were taken care of when she was gone. I have never met anyone as brave as she was and with so much determination. She never wanted you kids to realize she was sick….I hope you know how much she loved you.  I know she is so proud of both of you.  I always felt bad that so many memories were not shared with you."

My brother Louis also shared some amazing thoughts and memories. Most of this I never knew, so it was a pretty special e-mail to read. Thanks, Lou:

"I'm sad that your memories of her are few, and while mine aren't as many as I would like, I'm grateful for them.  Seeing Angela with Cole and Hannah makes me realize the importance of a mother in a child's life, and at times I get angry that she was taken from us so early.  I wonder how different our lives would be if we would have had her a few years longer.

My memories are somewhat scattered...mostly images and feelings.  I do remember how she used to work at the Tom Thumb as a cashier and on one Halloween, someone dressed up as Spiderman. She took me to see him.  I remember her working as a teacher, and we would go to her class, fourth grade, I think.  All the kids seemed so big, but they loved her.  She had a class gerbil and during the holidays, she would bring him home and we'd get to play with him.  She also used to bring her classes to our house in Flower Mound.  Sometimes Dad would give them a class about horses and they'd each get a turn to ride.  She also had one of her co-workers, Steve Fogel, come out with his telescope and he would give astronomy classes.

I remember going on vacation to Joannie and Tim Ledbetter's in South Carolina.  We drove out there in that brown and white station wagon, swam in the lake, etc.  We also seemed to take a yearly trip to Arizona and see all the family.  I don't remember the details, but I just remember feeling comforted when she was around.  She loved horses and was always working them in the arena, grooming them, or putting you and I on top of one.  She had two horses, Leo and Sundance.  Leo was pretty cranky, but he was a beautiful sorrell gelding with a white face.  Sundance was a pretty roan mare who was as gentle as the breeze. She really loved those animals, and I think that was as much of her therapy as the chemo.

I remember when she brought you home from the hospital, and instantly called you "Bird Legs" because you were so skinny.  I remember her at the hospital with you when you were 18 months or so...you had the crup and they put you in an oxygen tent.  And mom kept asking the doctors if they had the right diagnosis because you kept running down the halls, apparently feeling pretty good.

Did you know that Dad and Leon were going to get her some medicinal marijuana, and had arranged to buy some from a worker at the Phillips Ranch?  Leon told me they were supposed to pick it up from the mailbox at the ranch, but chickened out at the last minute because they were afraid the DEA knew about it and would arrest them. [ASIDE: This story cracks me up. I doubt that 2 cowboys buying pot were ever on the DEA's radar.]

I remember going to see her in the hospital after her first mastectomy.  She kept telling me not to worry, that she would beat cancer. I had no idea what she was talking about and she explained what a tumor was, and how the doctors removed one from her...I think that was the first time I heard "cancer".  She always maintained a positive attitude, and never stopped fighting.  She was very involved at the Methodist Church in Lewisville, and was adamant about you and I going to Sunday school.  I'm glad she was.  She was always reading her bible and highlighting passages.  Connie told me once that mom never quit. But that science and treatment hadn't caught up to her spirit to live. She said if mom had gotten cancer 10 years later, she would have won.

Unfortunately, my strongest memories are the worst.  Towards the end of her life, we went to MD Anderson in Houston. You and I ran around the park in front of the hospital, unaware of what was going on. Aunt Sally or Grandma Audrey was there with us, and at one point, you and I went to mom's hospital room to see her.  She was in really bad shape, and could barely speak.  Dad, Grandma, and Aunt Sally walked us into the room and she hugged us and just held on.  She smelled like medicine, and I remember thinking she was really sick, but had no idea that would be the last time we would see her.  We stayed for a few minutes and she asked about school and told us how proud she was of us.  Then she told us to be good boys for dad, that she loved us more than anything, and she would always be with us.  You and I cried, but I think we cried because everyone else was. [I'd give anything to remember this moment.] 

I don't remember much after leaving that room.  Shortly after, you and I spent the night at Billy and Carol's, and the next morning, they took us to Nanny's house.  It was a cold and gray Sunday morning, and Dad was there which I thought was strange because he was supposed to be in Houston. But I think I knew what happened when we saw him.  He sat us down on his lap, and told us "last night, Mom went to heaven."  

I don't remember the funeral, but I think it was in the Methodist Church.  When we came home after the service, we had a house full of friends and family, all of whom brought something for us to eat. Aunt Sally stayed with us for a couple of weeks, but at some point everyone else went on with their lives, and it was us. There was a distinct absence in the house and I think Dad spent the rest of his life trying to fill that hole.

She passed on a lot of things to you and I, a fighter's spirit, a commitment to an education, and a strong work ethic."

Everyone who speaks of my mother does so with an incredible amount of affection and a deep sense of admiration. She was kind, brilliant and courageous, and 30 years later, she is still dearly missed by those who knew her. I've missed having her in my life. If you've yet to contribute to The Pink Agenda, please take a few minutes and help however you can. You would be honoring a remarkable woman and her fight against breast cancer. 

http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/ryanbush/ryanbushsfundraisingpageforthenycmarathon 

Nutrition Is Killing Me

I'm making this way harder on myself than I should. Not only am I running an ungodly amount of miles over the course of a few months, but I'm doing this as a vegetarian. According to the people who are supposedly knowledgeable in such things, I should be consuming 75-80 grams of protein every day while training. (This is in addition to the insane amount of carbs required for long runs. My stomach is way too full after dinner.) Even if I ate a steak every night for dinner, I still would have a hard time getting to 75 grams of protein. Yet I've chosen to completely cut out of my diet the easiest, most readily accessible form of protein on the planet. To make things even more difficult, I am about the most useless person to ever set foot in a kitchen. Seriously, I even suck at chopping vegetables. The last time I was in training, I had to eat fish for a few weeks because I was so run down from a lack of protein. So far things are much better this time. 

So how are things different in 2012? Well, I'm routinely eating protein bars and drinking Gatorade with protein. Whey protein powder is a big player, and I liberally add it to cereal and smoothies. PBJ is a staple and quite possibly the greatest sandwich ever invented. I don't think I'd want to live in a world without PBJ. Most importantly though, my lady-friend has made me slightly less useless in the kitchen. I can now make risotto, stir fry and even reuben sandwiches, all with meat substitutes. It's been fairly painless, and I'm well fueled for all those miles. I may even experiment and try some new dishes on my own. That's more than you probably wanted to know about grams of protein or my nutritional habits, but hey, I'm running out of ideas.

Training Update:  These are the dog days. The miles are really piling up, and the race is far enough away that it's hard to find much excitement in the running. This is when it helps to remember why I'm doing this and how many people are behind me. Still, I'm running well and healthy (knock on wood) which is all that matters. The air has been gross and smoky lately from wildfires in the area, but thankfully I haven't felt it in my lungs. It can't be helping though. I have my first 20 mile run on Sunday. I fear being in my own head for that long and may have to drag the dog along for a few miles. It's high time he earned his keep.

Generic Update / Thanks

It's been over a month since I started training and so far so good. I'm running well and am healthy (knock on wood). My sore foot from earlier in the summer has subsided, so I actually feel better than when I started. The weeks are getting progressively harder though. I will run 45 miles this week including a long run of 16 miles on Sunday. I'm at the point now in my long runs where I have to consume disgusting energy gels and Gatorade while running. This is partly for energy and hydration, but at this stage I'm mainly trying to prep my overly sensitive stomach for digesting sugars while on a long run. I'll have to do this during the race, and I need to slowly get used to it.


So that's where my training stands. While I'm at it, I want to thank some really great people who for better or worse helped me with this crazy notion of mine. First up is my old law school pal Lauren who showed me that running for a selfless reason was not only a good idea but an enjoyable experience. I was proud to help her cause last year, and this never would have happened without me following her example. Second, my lovely girlfriend Colleen who convinced me that I could and should run this race and that I should put my faith in the generosity of friends and family. Colleen has supported and inspired me from the beginning and has endured me constantly talking about my training with nothing but a smile and genuine interest. Last but not least is my good buddy Triston who donated his credit card points to give me 3 nights at a hotel in Manhattan. This is beyond cool and saved me a lot of money. Despite his sarcastic exterior, Triston is a pretty generous dude. Also, I've been floored by the support of generosity of everyone who has donated. I still have 3 months to go, and the outpouring thus far is humbling. So those are the "Acknowledgements" of some pretty great folks. Please spread the word on my fundraising efforts and let people know that if they donate, they too may be mentioned on a blog that is read by literally tens of people.

My Love Letter to the High Desert

You will never hear me complain about running in Boise in the summer. This town is a runner's paradise made even more fantastic by my previous summers in the god-awful weather of Dallas. This is my third marathon and my third time to train in the heart of summer. The previous two training sessions did not go well. That's because I was training in the worst possible location in America. I'm convinced that no place has the combination of heat and humidity that Dallas has. Just looking out the window would make me start sweating. Even on early morning runs at 5am, the temperature would already be in the low 80s with zero wind and worst of all, high humidity. It felt like it was 95 degrees before the sun even came up! The human body is not designed to cool itself in these conditions, let alone run 16-20 miles. Some mornings I would be drenched in sweat with wobbly legs by mile 3. I would usually finish the run on sheer will, in legitimate fear of heat exhaustion or worse. This went on for 3 months without reprieve. Needless to say, I got very little out of this training, and my previous two marathon times reflect that.

I've paid my penance however and am now training in the perfect place. Boise mornings are fantastic. Even on hot days over 100 degrees, the mornings are cool and crisp. I've yet to have a bad run because of the heat, and training in high altitude should give me the lung capacity of a whale when I'm in NYC. Boise has also discovered that trails are a good thing. I can run on dirt trails in the hills and feel like I'm in the middle of nowhere, or I can run on flat, paved trails that go for miles and miles along the river. On weekends spent in the mountains, I get to run surrounded by spectacular scenery and fresh air. Best of all, the mornings in Boise are cool enough to bring my dog along. If I'd gone running with a thick-coated golden retriever in Dallas in August, he would either be dead or I would have been reported to the Humane Society. Now he's where he's supposed to be, running by my side. With all of this working in my favor and with the cause that I'm running for, I have no excuse if I don't run a really good race. So if you ever hear me complain about my training this summer, feel free to slap me.

Running Sucks / I Love Running

Whenever I tell someone that I'm training for a marathon, I often get the same response. A cock of the head and a skeptical look that says, "Good luck with that, you damn fool." I think this is because many people view running as torture and something to be avoided at all costs. They're right. It is torture. It sucks, and I hate it. I hate being drenched in my own sweat on warm mornings and having hands that are blocks of ice for 4 straight months in winter. I hate gasping for air while running up a steep hill and the random upset stomach that can occur on any run at any time. I hate the bumps and bruises that constantly pop up and cause me to walk like a geriatric. Early morning runs are no picnic either. I'm a bit of a morning person for sure, but no matter how accustomed a person is to early mornings, an alarm clock going off at 5 am is always a kick to the crotch.

But I continue to run because I love it. More than anything I've ever done. I love it because it clears my head and puts me at ease. You do a lot of thinking while on a run, but it's never stressful thinking. No matter what, it's just you and the road. I love how running lets me explore every new city I visit in a way that I couldn't otherwise. I love that I can eat pizza and drink beer with impunity knowing that those calories will be burned the next day. I love that I sleep so well because I run and those rare days when it feels like I could run as far and as fast as I want and never get tired. Plus, it's the perfect cure for a mild hangover. And then there are runs like this morning. My girlfriend and my best friend (of the dumb, 4-legged variety) joined me on the trails in the hills above Boise. The sun was rising, the world was empty, and there was no place else I wanted to be.

So while my relationship with running can be rocky and volatile at times, our love is true and will endure. I'll fight through the many mornings where I don't want to step out my front door and keep running. And I'll continue to take those skeptical looks.

The Journey of a Thousand Miles...

Well, it's almost time. On Monday, I begin my 18 weeks of training in preparation for the NYC Marathon! It's really strange to think that this experience will begin with me stepping out my front door for a normal run before work and will end when I (knock on wood) cross the finish line in Central Park. But I'm in for a lot of work between now and November. I promise that I won't bore everyone with the minutia of training on this blog, but just this once maybe I can give you an idea of what's in store for me.

At the moment, I'm incredibly antsy because I've been trying to take it easy for a few weeks and rest my body. I do not handle rest very well, so Monday can't get here soon enough. I know that things are about to get hectic and that I should enjoy the reprieve while it lasts, but taking days off is not really my strong suit. 

A typical training week will consist of a couple of shorter runs at a fast pace to build up my speed, a couple of long runs, a really short and easy recovery run and a day of lifting weights. My mileage will gradually increase until early October. At its peak, my heaviest training week will consist of around 57 miles which includes a long run of 22 miles. That will be the week when I hate running with a passion and question my own sanity.

Physically I'm in store for a body that is beaten up and sore by September. The key is to recognize what is just normal fatigue and soreness and what is the onset of an injury. Hopefully I can avoid any injury and be smart enough to rest when my body demands it. So much of avoiding an injury boils down to luck though. Fingers crossed.

The mental grind is almost as bad as the physical strain, if not worse. Running becomes your life, and no matter how much a person loves to run, the training becomes time-consuming and monotonous. You have to wake up at 5am, fall asleep before most young children's bedtime and basically put an end to your social life. Thankfully, I have very little social life to speak of.

That should give you an idea of what's in store for me in my training. Sounds fun, right? Actually despite the pain and fatigue, I'm really looking forward to the process and working towards what I hope will be a dream day on November 4. And although it sounds really cheesy, having the support of so many people coupled with the fact that I'm running for something so much more important than myself really will give me extra motivation and push me during the dog days. 

In the future, I plan on writing about the reason that I'm doing all of this (my mother), some of the people that have made my NYC experience possible, the greatness of training in a place like Boise and a few other wacky topics that may or may not fall flat. Thanks for giving this entry a read. Nuthin but luv.